There definitely is a time and a place for these. If you are going to have to fight or process firewood or do heavy jobs in uncertain locales…yeah, these make a certain kind of sense. I used to carry one in my plunder for years when I didn’t have to worry about weight. The bushcrafter can benefit with these too; he’s going to be building shelters and elaborate camps for extended stays in primitive conditions. But he’s probly going to have a small axe and a folding bucksaw too.
I can tell ya right now though…the casual hiker and hunter will likely never actually need one. I never did at any rate. This one is technically a bayonet - meaning it is meant to attach to a rifle. It’s an interesting evolution actually. Private McKenzie over on British Muzzleloaders shoots all kinds of antique military rifles where the bayonets are actually short swords. In one episode he was running period authentic musketry drills and if he had to carry the thing on his belt he was constantly tripping over it.
In the real world, for what I do…the pocket knives and axes are the way to go… but I loves me the big blades.
I worked with a Mexican guy once. We were cutting back bags for rework and he dropped his knife three time in the auger necessitating hitting the E-stop to get it out each time. After the third time I said, "I thought you guys were supposed to be good with knives." We became best friends after that. Still friends twenty years later, in fact.
ReplyDeleteMy usual carry is a cheap, lock-blade Frost knife. I used to be able to purchase a dozen at a pop for $20 US.
ReplyDeleteIn very cold weather or when I know I will have to gut-out a deer, I prefer a Mora fixed blade. They have aggressive checkering on the handle and a relatively slim blade which works well for the precision work around the deer's poop-chute.
If you cannot be perfect, being invisible is the next best thing.
I have wasted all kinds of money on blades Joe. It's infuriating! All the while I could have done as you do... I always thought the Mora's were cheap, dull throw-aways... I wish I had discovered their value earlier in life.
DeleteGood knife steel is cheap these days and no bones about it.
I had a new LAN -CAY knife like that, didn't have the saw tooth pattern on it. I found it to large for me and sold it on ebay. Took the money from it and bought a nice hatchet. Allan
ReplyDeleteThat was almost certainly the right way to go, Allen. Knives like that one above are cool but in the real world they suck at almost everything outside of heavy camp chores... and most of those will call for an axe or a hatchet...
DeleteI have a Becker bk7 for camping/bush stuff. That's as big as I would ever need. My big folders get the most daily carry and use though.
ReplyDeleteYou can find a compromise with the saw blade - cordage cutting serrated edges in the Buck 639 Fieldmate, made from 1986 - 1994. 5 1/2" blade with a Kraton grip. To me, a practical carrying size.
ReplyDeleteBut nothing makes up for a big blade
I never considered how difficult it must be to load a muzzle-loader equipped with a bayonet. Bringing a barrel-length ramrod down right next to a sharp bayonet in the heat of battle must have caused more than a few hand injuries.
ReplyDeleteY'know I never thought of that... you'd probly have to take it off during the initial volley... and then put it on the gun when the bad guys got close enough for the pig sticker...
DeleteI always figgered you would load prior to the battle, then attach bayonet, then get ready to fight. You got one shot and then charge with the bayonet. Reloading wouldn't be much of an option at close quarters.
DeleteAccording to Rob at British muzzle loaders, early infantry tactics called for volley fire - and they’d open up at about 300 - 400 yards. The guys in front would fire and then the guys behind would, while the guys in front reloaded. Paper cartridges speeded things up so fast they might get a couple volleys off before things got close and personal. Apparently they didn’t blow down their barrels between shots and it would scare the hell out of me to do that…but Rob doesn’t either. I think that’s a great way to get a hand blown off but… whadda I know? I never read any historical accounts of that happening so maybe I am just being unnecessarily paranoid about it…
DeleteI saw a video of a brit mercenary that was in Ukraine talking about what was useful and what was useless over there. One of the useless things was a big honkin knife like the one above. Same thing with a Gurka knife. Heavy and useless, they'd spend their time in the kit bag.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly he said a small machete would be more handy, especially if it had a sawtooth on one side.
This old hunter and backpacker has found that the older I get, the smaller the knives I carry and use.
ReplyDeleteThere's also the pucker factor. A knife like this flashed in some monkey's face might be a bit more "off putting " than your average pocketknife
ReplyDeletekind of funny, after close to 15 years in the army, I had people ask me what kind of blade/knife did I carry the most.
ReplyDeletea Swiss army knife. yup, a tinker model. carried it for years.
it is one of the most used items I had. even used a old Buck 110 case to fit it on my web gear. very handy knife.
although I did carry a Gerber model 1 dagger for a while.
fun fact, once was so bored on a training mission, like days there.
anyway, cut down some 7.62x51 blanks to shoot in the 1911.
even carved wooden bullets. made like 4-5 of them to shoot empty C-rat cans. the LT. got a bit pissed at it, but the 1sgt said to leave me alone. the boy is thinking.
I always wanted to make a Damascus blade out of wire rope but I gave my anvil away. Maybe somebody is using it. Anvil is gone but memories are still here. When it comes time to shut the shed door on your life, it's best to do it quick and dont look over your shoulder.
ReplyDeleteTimely post. Just this morning I pulled out my bayonet and my K-Bar to check their condition. Both were issue items that I have had since the 80's. Every time I was sent over the pond I was issued a knife and sometimes a multi-tool. I have a Benchmade auto that is a military only design that is my daily carry.
ReplyDeleteI carried a heavy bladed hunting knife when I was an initial attach firefighter, came down to hearing a helipad in small brush. A machete would have worked better but was always in the way except for that purpose. a heavy shorter blade in a chop and break motion did the trick.
ReplyDelete